CBSE Class 10 English Paragraph Writing – Format, Tips & Sample ParagraphsParagraph Writing Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes Introduction to Paragraph WritingWhat is a Paragraph?A paragraph is a short collection of well-organised sentences which revolve around a single theme and is coherent.Parts of a Paragraph• Introduction: It constitutes the opening sentences of the paragraph. It introduces the main idea. Good introductions often capture the interest of the reader.• Body (Supporting Sentences): It constitutes the supporting sentences and ideas. It provides the reader with additional details about the main idea.• Conclusion: It ties up loose ends of the paragraph and helps in reiterating or highlighting the main idea.Characteristics of a Well-written Paragraph• Concise: A good paragraph expresses everything it has to say briefly.• Unified: A paragraph revolves around a single idea. The first line of the paragraph often gives the main idea. All the other details support the main idea of the passage.• Sequenced: The sentences of the paragraph cannot be written haphazardly. The ideas progress in a sequential order.• Coherent: The sentences in the paragraph do not function independently. They are well- connected to be readable. If a paragraph is not coherent, then it may sound illogical or clumsy to the reader.• Complete: A complete paragraph expresses everything without leaving any gaps as far as the information is concerned. It does not end abruptly without offering a sensible conclusion.• The sentences underlined in RED comprise the introduction of the paragraph. It simplifies or explains the idea given in the title for the reader.• The sentences underlined in PURPLE comprise the body of the paragraph. It provides all the information to support the main idea of the paragraph.• The sentences underlined in BLUE comprise the conclusion of the paragraph. It reiterates or highlights the main idea and the final opinion of the writer.• The paragraph conveys its main ideas briefly. It is therefore concise.• The entire paragraph focuses on a single idea. It therefore has unity.• In the paragraph, the ideas in the introduction are well connected to the body of the paragraph.• That in turn is connected to the conclusion of the paragraph. Connectives are added to connect the ideas smoothly and logically. It is therefore sequential and coherent.• The paragraph does not end abruptly. It repeats the idea that is explained in the beginning of the paragraph. By using closing sentences such as„ The proverb therefore…‟, it puts emphasis on the writer’s final opinion. The paragraph is therefore complete.• Hence, we can say that the above paragraph is well-written.Types of Paragraphs• Descriptive Paragraph: As the name suggests, through the Descriptive Paragraph, the writer describes something to the reader. It may be based on what the writer has seen, heard or felt. The writer uses rich descriptions that appeals to the reader’s senses. This helps the reader place himself in a world that the writer creates.Sample 2Hermes: The Messenger of GodsHermes is a Greek Olympian God. Born to Zeus and Maia, Hermes is known for his quick thinking and cunning nature. He is the youngest of the Olympians and is known to move quickly between the worlds of the divine and the mortal. Because of this ability, Hermes often acts as a messenger between men and the Olympians. A benevolent God, Hermes protects travelers and athletes. He is also known to be mischievous as he often plays tricks on other gods. He does it for his own amusement or in a bid to save humans from the gods‟ wrath. Hermes is also the speediest of all gods since he has wings attached to his sandals. Interestingly, Hermes could never resist the urge to steal even when he was an infant. Therefore, he is also credited as the patron God of all thieves.• Narrative Paragraph: This type of paragraph tells a story or an incident to the reader. In other words, it simply narrates a tale that is meaningful. Such paragraphs often follow a linear or a chronological order of narration.The following sample is taken from the novel “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf.Sample 4What a lark! What a plunge! For so it had always seemed to her when, with a little squeak of the hinges, which she could hear now, she had burst open the French windows and plunged at Bourton into the open air. How fresh, how calm, stiller than this of course, the air was in the early morning; like the flap of a wave; the kiss of a wave; chill and sharp and yet (for a girl of eighteen as she then was) solemn, feeling as she did, standing there at the open window, that something awful was about to happen; looking at the flowers, at the trees with the smoke winding off them and the rooks rising, falling; standing and looking until Peter Walsh said, “Musing among the vegetables?” – was that it? – “I prefer men to cauliflowers” – was that it? He must have said it at breakfast one morning when she had gone out onto the terrace – Peter Walsh.• Expository Paragraph: This type of paragraph explains an instruction, a method or a process. The purpose of such a paragraph is to simply explain something to the reader. Often, the writer of such paragraphs does a lot of research on the topics he or she wishes to explain. The writer uses expository paragraphs to share the knowledge that he or she already has with the readers.Sample 6Why do Atoms Explode when they are Split?Atoms of radioactive elements can be spilt. According to Albert Einstein, mass and energy are interchangeable under certain conditions. When the atom splits, the process is called nuclear fission. In this case, a tiny amount of mass is converted into energy. The energy thus released cannot do much damage. However, a number of subatomic particles called neutrons are also released during this process. Each neutron will hit a radioactive element releasing more neutrons in the process. This results in a chain reaction and a tremendous amount of energy is created. This energy is converted into heat which expands uncontrollably causing an explosion. Hence, atoms do not explode in the literal sense. They create energy which can cause explosions.• Persuasive Paragraph: This type of paragraph is used to capture the reader’s interest or to make them understand and accept the writer’s point of view. Persuasive paragraphs are useful for building arguments. Such passages are rhetorical in nature and may use facts and details to make the argument stronger and more believable. The writer has to be confident of his or her opinion to sound credible to readers. The aim of the writer is to influence the beliefs of readers.Sample 8The Importance of BreakfastYou may already know that it is important to have a king-sized breakfast every morning. Do you know why? Your body is famished in the morning because you haven’t eaten for about 8–10 hours. Breakfast is therefore the first meal of the day, and hence, the most important one as well. Imagine driving a car without fuel; this is exactly how your body feels without the fuel provided by a nutritious breakfast. Many people these days resort to skipping breakfast in a bid to lose weight. Nutritionists are appalled by this trend since it is mandatory to have breakfast within two hours of waking up. Depriving the body of energy can cause serious health problems in the long run. Forget silly celebrities and their inane ways to lose weight. Never ever miss breakfastSteps to Write a Paragraph• Step 1: Think about the idea given in the title or the prompt.• What type of paragraph will be appropriate?• What could be the main ideas?• How to write the introduction, the body and the conclusion?• Write all the ideas.Example:India: The World’s Biggest Democracy‟• In this case, a descriptive paragraph would be appropriate.• Main ideas would include• Why India is the biggest democracy?• What are the hallmarks of Indian democracy?• India’s diversity• Instances when democracy in India played a definite role• Step 2: Structure your paragraph.• Do not use more than two sentences for the introduction and conclusion.• It is important to plan your paragraph instead of writing spontaneously.• Arrange the ideas in a chronological order if you are attempting a narrative paragraph.• Arrange them in the increasing order of importance in a descriptive, expository or persuasive paragraph.• Remember to conclude the paragraph.• Step 3: Use a consistent tense form while writing the paragraph.• Step 4: Keep in mind the „Characteristics of a Well-written Paragraph that we discussed at the beginning of the lesson.• Step 5: Recheck for any grammatical errors after writing a paragraph.A Checklist: JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW